No one should have to suffer additional physical and financial pain because a pharmaceutical company failed to warn them of potential side effects.

— Michael Monheit, Esq.

It’s a fairly well-known fact that heart disease can occur due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. But what isn’t commonly known is that these aren’t the only ways that someone may end up suffering cardiac arrest and failure. In fact, research has shown that sometimes the side effect of certain drugs can land a patient in the hospital in serious condition.

Manufacturers Are Responsible For Selling Safe Products

Whenever a company creates a medication that they intend to present to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval, they must first put the test through a series of trials to determine if it is safe for patients, actually treats the conditions it is supposed to treat, and if there are any side effects that could potentially harm anyone taking it. The FDA will review this information and then either approve or reject the medication.

Even if the FDA approves a new drug, the company is still responsible for informing the medical community and the public about any potential side effects associated with taking the medication.

If they fail to do so, anyone who suffers from a side effect that they weren’t warned about may be able to pursue legal action against them.

Today, the pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb are facing lawsuits filed by patients who were prescribed Onglyza or Kombiglyze and then were diagnosed with heart disease.

Study Links Diabetes Drugs To Heart Disease

The New England Journal of Medicine released information on a study in 2013, showing that when comparing patients who had been given a placebo with patients who were given a drug containing the active ingredient saxagliptin, those who took saxagliptin had a nearly 30% higher chance of developing heart failure. Both Kombiglyze and Onglyza contain saxagliptin.

After learning about the study’s results, the FDA convened a review board to look over data they requested from AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Of the fifteen people reviewing the information, the majority determined that the drug could remain on the market, however, a black box warning needed to be issued, informing doctors and patients that the drug may cause congestive heart failure.

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Congestive Heart Failure & Complications

Medications, hospitalization, surgical procedures, physical therapy, and home care are all treatments that may be required by someone who has had a heart attack or is in heart failure. The cost of these treatments can be exorbitant, putting extreme financial strain a patient who already has enough stress to deal with.

Cost Of Medical Care

Did you know that on average, each time a patient is hospitalized it costs $9,700? Or that of all medical conditions, heart failure has the highest rate of rehospitalization within 30 days? This is in addition to the $100 – $1,600 patients spend monthly on their medications and doesn’t include the cost of surgery or other testing that might be performed. Bear in mind – this is simply the cost of care for heart disease – patients who developed heart disease because of saxagliptin are already battling Type 2 diabetes.

On top of all this, there are some common complications associated with heart failure, such as:

Kidney Failure

If the heart isn’t working properly, it can’t pump blood properly. The kidneys are especially sensitive to this and if nutrient rich blood doesn’t reach the kidneys, the patient may end up in renal failure.

Liver Disease

Another common issue among patient with heart disease is fluid buildup. Unfortunately, in addition to putting pressure on the lungs and being uncomfortable in general, if not caught and treated, this fluid can also put pressure on the liver causing damage.

Blood Clots

Poor blood flow and irregular heartbeats increase the risk of a patient developing a blood clot that could travel anywhere in the body.

If a patient develops any one of these complications, they could easily end up spending more time in the hospital and require additional expensive care.

Who Is At Risk?

Currently, Onglyza and Kombiglyze are two of the most popular medications prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes on the market – and anyone who takes this drug could be at risk. In 2016 alone, Onglyza sales topped more than $192 million.

The Current Litigation

In the many lawsuits filed against AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb, plaintiffs are claiming that the companies failed to properly warn physicians and their patients about the risks of developing heart failure if prescribed Onglyza or Kombiglyze.

These cases are still in the early stages but hundreds more are expected to be filed in the coming months.

How Do I Know If I’m Eligible To File A Lawsuit?

The best way to determine if you or a loved one are one of the thousands eligible to file an Onglyza or Kombiglyze lawsuit, contact us. We will review your case and determine all legal avenues available to you. Keep in mind that there are statutes of limitations associated with product liability cases, so the sooner you contact us the better.